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The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico is an excellent choice if you’re looking for memorable entertainment in Mexico City. This folkloric dance ensemble in Mexico City has been delighting audiences for more than five decades, and the traditional culture of Mexico is seen in the elaborate costumes the dancers wear. The Mexico City Ballet Folklorico performs three times a week at the Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) in Mexico City. The ensemble was founded by one Mexican woman whose name has become synonymous with the group: the Ballet Folklorico de Amalia Hernandez.

Amalia Hernandez founded the group in 1952, which began as a small group of just eight dancers. In fewer than ten years, this ensemble had expanded to include more than 50 people. The Ballet Folklorico de Amalia Hernandez has continued to thrill audiences since this time, but if you don’t think you’ll be traveling to Mexico City anytime soon you can keep your eye out for tours of the Mexico City Ballet Folklorico. The ensemble sometimes travels to the United States and beyond to perform their show of Mexican culture and heritage. In fact, the group is so popular that they have performed in more than 80 countries.

The folk music genres of Mexico are represented by the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. The traditions of indigenous Mesoamerican culture are also on display with the musical pieces and ballet. Each individual dance number can feature a range of performers, from moving pieces with just two dancers, to impressive numbers with almost 40 dancers. The type of dance is broken down into three categories: Danza, Mestizo, and Bailes Rejionales. Dance has held a significant place in the culture of Mexico over hundreds of years, and this ballet company allows present-day visitors to experience a part of that tradition.

The Ballet Folklorico de Amalia Hernandez is a great reason to visit the opera house of Mexico City, the Palacio de Bellas Artes. For English-speaking visitors, some of the theater and opera performances at this theater might not pack their full punch without language. However, this is one of the powers of dance: No matter what language you speak, the music and dance can be enjoyed and interpreted in your own way. You can also explore the historic theater building during the day, and there are many pieces of art, along with a bookstore, restaurant, and museum that make this a popular landmark for tourists. Its central location also makes it easy to visit other attractions, such as the Palacio Nacional and the Zocalo.

The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico has inspired similar ensembles in America and Canada. Dancers who have left Mexico and immigrated to the north have brought the traditions of dance with them, and some have started similar groups. Tickets for the Mexico City Ballet Folklorico can be ordered in advance online or purchased once you arrive in Mexico City. Notable for colorful and elaborate costumes as well as impressive dance numbers, the Ballet Folklorico is where some of the top dancers in Mexico perform each week.